I won't know if I don't TRI

video from Delaney's first triathlon....

Since my season is 'over' - still can't run more than 10 mins....and I am having lots of 'lingering' knee pain/stiffness/clickiness even not running...and my 'tennis elbow' is as annoying as ever - and I am beyond frustrated - I am spending about $150/week on physio and chiro(ART) which we don't have coverage for, and I am not seeing any improvement! -

soooo.....the girls are going to do another triathlon next weekend - in Summerland.  We are going to stay in Penticton and make a long weekend out of it.  The grandparents, and their uncle/uncle's girlfriend are going to come up and watch too.

just want to look back at some positive changes...

I have been dwelling on so many negative things lately that I needed to go and look for something to be positive about.  Here is a pic comparing now to Jan '07 (and I had already lost about 30 pounds before that pic!).  It's easy to miss all of the changes taking place when you see yourself everyday.  The hard work is paying off!  I will update about all of my injuries/rehab in another post - don't want to spoil this one :)

Falling apart...

Not a happy camper today...it sucks waking up on race day when you can't race. 

And to top it off I have come to 'realization' that these odd pains I have been having in/around my left elbow (that I have - until now - been ignoring in light of my other aches and pains) are more serious than I originally thought too....they are getting worse, not better.  Some quick internet research leads me to believe that it is tennis elbow....only I can't figure out what 'repetitive' movement I have been doing to cause the symptoms ??

But it is affecting pretty much everything I try to do (even worse than my ITB right now - although I haven't tried to run in a week).  My elbow hurts driving, washing dishes, folding laundry, picking up items at the grocery store, even washing my kids' hair (and mine too!).

I feel like I am falling apart at the seams!

more disappointing news....

After Mondays 'less than stellar' 8 minute pain-free run I went for a 40K bike ride on Tuesday.  My ITBs have not been bothering me biking so I thought it would be okay...and things felt okay during the ride...but once home my ITBs in both my legs (and both at the knees and the hips) were SCREAMING.  This is the first time this injury that the pain (and I mean pain) lingered and wasn't just during running.  I had to sleep with a hot water bottle because my hips were so sore!

I went to the chiro for another ART session today and he said I need to take a break from both biking and running - until next week at least - and until after I have had at least 2 more ART sessions.  Things were much improved after today's session - and I was able to do my personal training session (only ommiting the lunges)...and I did lots more stretching and foam roller work there too.  (I have a foam roller on order to use at home too). But a little later I 'darted' across a street to catch a light and I felt my knees just doing that!

So clearly there is no way I could have raced this Sunday.  I am now just really hoping that next week I can start adding some minutes to my runs again and *maybe* be able to squeek out a sprint on August 10th?  Otherwise that just might be it for my season this year. (pout)

Bowing Out.....

I have decided to bow out of the Diva's Sprint on the 27th after today attempt at running - I was only able to go 8 minutes pain free :(  (which was about half as long as I was able to go on Friday....)

I have 2 more ART sessions scheduled this week, and my new orthotics should be ready next week - I sure hope I heal soon!  There is another Sprint Tri in Langley on August 10th that I may attempt if things begin to improve.

Jacqueline and Delaney's results!

Female (8-9yrs) - 100m/4.2k/1k

0:17:48 507 LAPOINTE, Annelise (she rode a road bike)

0:22:50 503 MACHRY, Kiara

0:23:01 515 OSBORNE, Natalie

0:23:48 508 MOLNAR, Jacqueline

0:29:29 521 KINGSBURY, Ashley

0:32:00 511 WOLDRING, Serena

********************************************

Female (7 & U) - 50m/1.2k/500m

0:09:38 107 NGAWATI, Kiri

0:10:16 117 CHRISTENSEN, Maya

0:12:15 109 MOLNAR, Delaney

0:13:08 113 LIU, Clara

0:13:29 112 MATTEAU RUSHBROOK, Camie

0:14:15 111 BATES, Claire

0:27:11 116 LIU, Katie

"VICTORY" tastes SWEET!

Well - not victory in the sense of 'winning' but in accomplishing your goals!  Jacqueline and Delaney did the Exceleration KOS tri today - and they did AWESOME!  Delaney placed 3/7 in her AG - with a time of 12:15 for 50m/1.2k/500m. 

Jacqueline placed 4/6 in her AG - with a time of 23:50 for 100m/4.2k/1k.  Jacqueline had 2 points where she lost some time too!  The first was coming into T2 - she got off her bike WAY too early...and the second was when she headed out on the run she forgot to get water at the table and then once she realized it she turned around to go get some LOL!  She could have had 3rd place easily...2nd place was at least a minute ahead so I don't think she lost that much time.  I am proud of her for running the full 1K too (when she did the tri in Whistler with a 1.5 k run - she walked more than she ran because of bad cramps).  She got a bad cramp today too (she was hurting a fair bit at the end of the race)...but she didn't want to walk.

Here are a few highlights....(more pics - and videos - can be seen on my facebook profile:  facebook link )

 

ART (active release techniques) HURTS!!!

Well -after I had several runs with the same characteristic knee pain beginning about 15 mins (give or take) into my run I decided I had better see someone and see what was going on.  Some quick research on the net led me to believe that I am dealing with ileotibial band (ITB) syndrome...since pain starting about 2miles or so into the run and the location (outside knee) of the pain is characteristic of it.

Went to my chiropractor (who is certified in ART) on Tuesday and it was confirmed that I am dealing ITB syndrome.  Luckily it is in it's early stages though and hopefully the recovery won't be too long.  I have had two sessions of  ART now - and as my title says - it HURTS like a BUGGER!  OWEE!  I have also been doing these stretches on the this foam roller - EXCRUCIATING!!

I have been told it is okay to run - just until the point of pain though (I was intially trying to tough it out and ran for several minutes after the pain began) - which yesterday, that was 12.5 minutes!  Hopefully that will get longer in the near future!  The jury is still out on my race next weekend (27th).  If I haven't been able to run (at least once) pain free for at least 30 mins before then then I don't think I will attempt it.  And even if I do run it - I know I won't have a stellar race because I haven't had a 'normal' run in quite some time!

As for my ITB syndrome - I (and my chiro) are not quite certain what is causing it.  My legs have quite a bit of scar tissue built up in the muscles (which the ACT is dealing with) that could be making my ITB rub on my knee cap.  Also - my orthotics are just over 2 years (usual lifespan is about 2 years).  when I was prescribed those my podiatrist diagnosed a leg-length discrepancy and had a lift built into my right orthotic.  My chiro says I don't have any noticeable leg-length discrepancy right now.  He thinks that I may have had an 'apparent' discrepancy perhaps due to a torqued hip which has worked itself out over time.  And thus - the lift that used to normalize my right leg - now makes it LONGER than my left - which, if true, could easily be causing my issues.  I got cast today for new orthotics - but they won't be in for 2 weeks (well after the race) - so it won't be any help for the race.

The girls have their race on Saturday - we go and pick up their race packages tomorrow - and do a bike check etc.  They (especially Delaney) are getting excited!

Mini Triumph!! (and a small update)

OK - Had a semi-private bike skills session tonight - and I am STOKED to report that I have 'graduated' from the most elementary of mounting/dismounting techniques!  I can now do a 'one leg swing-over' while coasting mount and dismount and as well as a 'run and hop on' mount!

....and I know I owe an update/pics for race number 2 (Oliver Sprint) - I have been waiting to see the pics my MIL took to see (and hope) if there are any worth posting since what we (husband) got are pretty pitiful!

The girls have their next (Delaney's first) race next Saturday on the 19th...and I have my third race on the 27th in North Van (Diva's only).  My knee has been bothering me that last several times I have tried to run though (it starts about 15-17 mins in) and has been very annoying.  It doesn't bother me biking or swimming though at least.  But I have not been able to focus on my running since my last tri like I had planned/wanted....nor do many bricks....so I have to expect a similar experience on the run segment as in Oliver (horrible!) - which I have yet to write about.

New tri suits for the girls!

The girls modelling their new zoot tri suits - aren't they cute?  These weren't easy to find either!  there isn't an overabundance of tri gear for this age range. They are both wearing the same size (S/M) - as the size chart said for 7-10 year olds - and they are 7.5 and almost 9 respectively.  They wore them in our pool today - eager to try them out!